The residents of Fairview Retirement Village had the honour of welcoming Royal Australian Navy Commander Michael Doncaster on Wednesday as the special guest for their annual Anzac Day service.
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About 40 people gathered in the Perry James Lodge dining room for the annual service, held a day prior to Anzac Day.
Each year Fairview holds a service to give all residents a chance to pay their respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in war.
"We are assembled here to commemorate that immortal day when the young men of Australia, by their deeds and sacrifice, demonstrated to the world at Gallipoli that Australia was truly a nation," John Hann said in the introduction.
"The sons and daughters of Anzacs came forward without question, accepted gladly and discharged fully, their responsibilities during World War II, Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and Afghanistan conflicts.
"On this day we remember the sacrifice of such men for an ideal, for a way of life."
Commander Michael Doncaster, who currently serves as the Deputy Director Five Eyes and Global in Navy International Engagement with the Royal Australian Navy, spoke of the history of Anzac Day and Australia's conflicts from World War I onwards and said this year is significant as the first year after the four centenary years of Anzac.
"This year gives us an opportunity to consider the broad purpose of Anzac Day," he said.
Commander Doncaster said the day is about remembering those who fought in all wars and honouring the sacrifice they made for our freedom.
"We are the beneficiaries of our first Anzacs and those who have fought since," he said.
"Each year we pay our respects to those men and women ... this is a payment we make against a debt we can never fully repay."
Moree RSL Sub-branch junior vice president John Williams gave the commemorative address and read The Ode, while Minister Ian Davies gave the Prayer of Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Nation.
Stella Cusack, Sister Margaret Cusack, Ivy Gossip and Laurel Briant also read poems, while bugler John Hodge sounded The Last Post and Reveille.
